"zap" wrote in message
ink.net...
You are missing something, and that something is VERY Important.

What you would end up with would be a drill which would not drill into
even butter, and would burn up if you tried to drill into anything harder.

On a properly sharpened drill bit, only the cutting edge touches what
you are drilling into. That is, that cutting edge extends further out
than the back of the flute that the cutting edge is on. The cutting edge
is the front edge of the flute, and the back of the flute must taper
away from the leading edge. If it does not, then the entire flute rubs
and will not cut.

Like a knife, the cutting edge must be at such an angle to what you are
cutting to dig in, while the side of the knife would just slide over
without digging in to make the cut. The leading cutting edge of the
drill bit works the same way.

I agree with this.

Actually drill bits are not that difficult to sharpen on a bench grinder by
hand once you understand the proper geometry. Apprentice machinists learn
this skill early on.

A visit to your local machine shop with a six-pack in hand might get you a
lesson or two.

--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.